“vegetable” and a vegetarian should eat only food of
vegetableorigin.Takenasaverbalquibble,thiscriticismis
historically inaccurate. The term “vegetarian” came into
general use asa result ofthe formation of theVegetarian
Societyin England in1847. Sincetherules ofthe society
permit the useof eggs and milk, theterm “vegetarian” is
properly applied to those who use these animal products.
Recognizing this linguistic fait accompli, those who eat
neitheranimalfleshnoreggsnormilknorfoodsmadefrom
milkcallthemselves“vegans.”Theverbalpoint,however,is
nottheimportantone.Whatweshouldaskiswhethertheuse
of these other animalproducts is morally justifiable. This
questionisarealonebecauseitispossibletobeadequately
nourishedwithoutconsuminganyanimalproductsatall—a
fact that is not widely known, although most people now
knowthatvegetarianscanlivelongandhealthylives.Ishall
saymoreonthetopicofnutritionlaterinthischapter;forthe
presentitisenoughtoknowthatwecandowithouteggsand
milk. But is there any reason why we should?
We have seen that the egg industry is one of the most
ruthlessly intensive forms of modern factory farming,
exploitinghensrelentlesslytoproducethemosteggsatthe
leastcost.Ourobligationtoboycottthistypeoffarmingisas
strongasourobligationtoboycottintensivelyproducedpork
orchicken.Butwhat offree-rangeeggs,assumingyoucan
get them? Here theethical objections are very much less.
Hensprovidedwithbothshelterandanoutdoorruntowalk
andscratcharoundinlivecomfortably.Theydonotappearto
mind the removal of their eggs. The main grounds for
objectionarethatthemalechicksoftheegg-layingstrainwill
havebeenkilledonhatching,andthehensthemselveswillbe
killedwhentheyceasetolayproductively.Thequestionis,